Topic: FYI... Guitar Center shoppers (Read 4044 times)

stiksnmypocket · « **on:** April 21, 2008, 02:49:58 PM »

they've sold out to the Wal-Mart mentality, NO MORE DEALS.... they say they have to lowest prices guranteed, that may be true but I bet your smaller stores will gladly knock off a couple bucks to get your business, from now on the price you see is the price you pay... in which in most cases if you were a loyal customer there and the guy you used to deal with on a reg basis used to give you sweet deals knock off a couple dollars here or there, Not anymore, so they'll be losing alot of money I guess, maybe, maybe not, but who doesn't love deals? its so deep that they've made internal changes that doesn't allow the salesman to even knock off a dollar, just thought I'd share that lil bit of info if there were any G/C custys on the site that was used to buying gear below of what they sold it regularly for

JFunky · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2008, 02:56:52 PM »

...I don't buy anything from Guitar Center anyway so congrats. to them. $:-\$

...the last time I went to the local G.C. in my area, I told 3 customers to visit the local 5 Star Drum Shop and walked out of the drum dept. feeling good. LOL Twenty-five minutes later, I saw one of them at the shop "purchasing" what he needed and leaving with a smile.

under13 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:01:16 PM »

That sucks, They are building a bigger one in my area. I guess I'll be shopping at Sam Ash, and going to guitar center to play around with gear and network.

JFunky · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:07:20 PM »

Quote from: under13 on April 21, 2008, 03:01:16 PM

That sucks, They are building a bigger one in my area. I guess I'll be shopping at Sam Ash, and going to guitar center to play around with gear and network.

...isn't that what everyone else does? LOL

...I played a Timeless Timbre DW on the Sales Floor. As a matter of fact, I think every drummer in Central Florida did as well. The dumb thing was that G.C. was still trying to sell that kit at "full price" when it was all beat up and scratched. "No Deals. We have the lowest prices in the land." - G.C.

...sure they don't. LOL

yamahaboy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:22:41 PM »

Quote from: JFunky on April 21, 2008, 03:07:20 PM

...isn't that what everyone else does? LOL

...I played a Timeless Timbre DW on the Sales Floor. As a matter of fact, I think every drummer in Central Florida did as well. The dumb thing was that G.C. was still trying to sell that kit at "full price" when it was all beat up and scratched. "No Deals. We have the lowest prices in the land." - G.C.

...sure they don't. LOL

Yeah, there is a Pearl Masters Series Kits that has been beat up on for over 8 months now, and they are still selling it for $2,000. I have seen countless heads on it. I barely ever buy anything from GC over 20 bucks because they always say that they will knock something down, but its only for about 7 or 8 bucks most of the time. $:-\$ I just go there and act like Im interested in Purchasing something, and then ask for a pair of Sticks to fool around on the kit for a bit!

under13 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:28:23 PM »

I usually only purchace small stuff there. When I got some software from them that cost $300, they knocked it down to 270, but with tax it came to like 290ish. I shoulda gotten the tax exempt number from the church.

QCdrummer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:35:20 PM »

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! This is the worst news I could have heard. Well I'm glad I picked up my set when I did! I haven't been to GC in a while since I've got almost everything that I need, but this is still bad news!

But in all honesty, the salesman have to eat too. And the more they knock money off, the more they lose on commission. And if it wasn't for commission they wouldn't even be able to put gas in thier cars. Alot of those guys work for a month or two, and then leave because they money is just not good.

So maybe the people in charge realized how much money was being loss because of the deals (AND I'VE GOTTEN PLENTY OF THEM) that were being given out. I mean if you take 2 dollars off here and there, it may not see like much, but it does add up in the end.

stiksnmypocket · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:53:06 PM »

Quote from: QCdrummer on April 21, 2008, 03:35:20 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! This is the worst news I could have heard. Well I'm glad I picked up my set when I did! I haven't been to GC in a while since I've got almost everything that I need, but this is still bad news!

But in all honesty, the salesman have to eat too. And the more they knock money off, the more they lose on commission. And if it wasn't for commission they wouldn't even be able to put gas in thier cars. Alot of those guys work for a month or two, and then leave because they money is just not good.

So maybe the people in charge realized how much money was being loss because of the deals (AND I'VE GOTTEN PLENTY OF THEM) that were being given out. I mean if you take 2 dollars off here and there, it may not see like much, but it does add up in the end.

me being a Former employee, it doesn't matter if we sold stuff at cost or at full price the way the commission is set up is a joke, you have to sell and make their money first then lets say afte I made the store $1500 I would then get 3% of whateva over the 1500 I made them which would be compared to cheap cat food by then, then the commision check got a hefty tax, and keep in mind the base was/is min wage unless you're and Assi manager or above... so all in there going down, thats just what happens when a big cooperation buys you out, they don't care about musicians they want what everybody else wants and thats that Green paper, I worked there about 7-8 months before dipping, I was DM and top sales in drums and brought home like 1 good commision check....

Metronome · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2008, 03:53:16 PM »

..........my boys used to work there at home.....I only go to guitar center when buying stuff for the church. My personal stuff never gets bought there. I go see my peoples and they put me down

QCdrummer · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2008, 04:20:19 PM »

Quote from: stiksnmypocket on April 21, 2008, 03:53:06 PM

me being a Former employee, it doesn't matter if we sold stuff at cost or at full price the way the commission is set up is a joke, you have to sell and make their money first then lets say afte I made the store $1500 I would then get 3% of whateva over the 1500 I made them which would be compared to cheap cat food by then, then the commision check got a hefty tax, and keep in mind the base was/is min wage unless you're and Assi manager or above... so all in there going down, thats just what happens when a big cooperation buys you out, they don't care about musicians they want what everybody else wants and thats that Green paper, I worked there about 7-8 months before dipping, I was DM and top sales in drums and brought home like 1 good commision check....

Whoa! I didn't know it was that bad. Thats why hardly nobody stays there longer than a year.

SabianKnight · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2008, 04:58:26 PM »

A lot of this has to do with the lack of live venues and paying gigs for musicians. When cats are not gigging they are not buying. A lot has to do with the fact that they have these ridiculous mark ups. As well the sales people not knowing the gear well enough to give the customer what they need in regards to answering situational questions or specific sound issues. Money comes through good service. The lack of support for the clinic circuit did not build any loyalties either.

Right now gas prices are wrecking through increased shipping costs.

Lildrummaboy66 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2008, 09:33:10 PM »

Quote from: SabianKnight on April 21, 2008, 04:58:26 PM

A lot of this has to do with the lack of live venues and paying gigs for musicians. When cats are not gigging they are not buying. A lot has to do with the fact that they have these ridiculous mark ups. As well the sales people not knowing the gear well enough to give the customer what they need in regards to answering situational questions or specific sound issues. Money comes through good service. The lack of support for the clinic circuit did not build any loyalties either.

Right now gas prices are wrecking through increased shipping costs.

Truth! We see it in all of our purchases!

sugabear · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2008, 09:41:22 PM »

I work for samash.com, so I know how it is trying to work as a commission sales person. Sabe is right about those gas prices. We just got a memo from Pearl today about a hefty price increase they just made because of the cost of gas. The good thing about working at my Sam Ash store is you have the opportunity to work in more than one department because you do phone sales. That alone has kept me happy there. If I only worked in the drum department and lived off that commission I'd be a homeless man with a job. Our base pay is really good though. The actual Sam Ash store employees make minimum wage base if I recall correctly. Every music retailer is filling the pinch of today's economy. Sales are down everywhere. Today I took only 11 calls in a 8 hr. shift. That's ridiculous. I've been making all my money by calling international customers and selling to them. International customers pay advertised price in a heart beat because gear cost so much overseas.

THE WOLFMAN · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2008, 09:45:51 PM »

Quote from: sugabear on April 21, 2008, 09:41:22 PM

I work for samash.com, so I know how it is trying to work as a commission sales person. Sabe is right about those gas prices. We just got a memo from Pearl today about a hefty price increase they just made because of the cost of gas. The good thing about working at my Sam Ash store is you have the opportunity to work in more than one department because you do phone sales. That alone has kept me happy there. If I only worked in the drum department and lived off that commission I'd be a homeless man with a job. Our base pay is really good though. The actual Sam Ash store employees make minimum wage base if I recall correctly. Every music retailer is filling the pinch of today's economy. Sales are down everywhere. Today I took only 11 calls in a 8 hr. shift. That's ridiculous. I've been making all my money by calling international customers and selling to them. International customers pay advertised price in a heart beat because gear cost so much overseas.

werd? so you know James Bennet then...

Hotsticks1 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2008, 10:20:04 PM »

Quote from: Metronome on April 21, 2008, 03:53:16 PM

..........my boys used to work there at home.....I only go to guitar center when buying stuff for the church. My personal stuff never gets bought there. I go see my peoples and they put me down

What's good with some connects then cuzzo!!!!!!! You know I'm tryna get my gear up before college...lol...no but seriously

sugabear · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2008, 01:25:04 PM »

Quote from: THE WOLFMAN on April 21, 2008, 09:45:51 PM

werd? so you know James Bennet then...

even though there are quite a few employees named James that name doesn't ring a bell. Does he work in the office or in the Warehouse? We don't interact a lot with the warehouse guys (company policy), so I only know a few guys back there.

JFunky · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2008, 03:04:28 PM »

...hey fellas. Yall have got to be careful when dropping names from these companies.

...man, I went to purchase my Gibraltar Kick Practice Pad from G.C. and they wanted $80, right. The guy was like, "..that's as low as I can go too." I was like...uuhh...I dunno. I went down the street to Sam Ash and I bought that joka for $45. The drum rep. wasn't even around. LOL

LDN-DRUMMA · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2008, 04:40:49 PM »

at least you have a guitar center

fretai03 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2008, 06:03:51 PM »

Quote from: LDN-DRUMMA on April 22, 2008, 04:40:49 PM

at least you have a guitar center

AMEN!

yamahaboy · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2008, 06:14:32 PM »

Quote from: fretai03 on April 22, 2008, 06:03:51 PM

AMEN!

You guys have a point, We are the ones complaining about GC and there recent changes, and you guys don't even have a Guitar Center. Don't you have to pay MSRP for your gear?

One thing I must say is that Used gear is pretty abundant there. I needed a Ball Joint Mount for my toms and the guy just let me have it. I was happy because a brand new one would have been almost $30

Author Topic: FYI... Guitar Center shoppers (Read 4044 times)